“Multiple Coast Guard and local Ventura County Fire Department assets on scene, but we're not able to yet breach the hull and see if there's any survivors at this point,” Mr Bemis said.

“I'm unaware of any survivors at this time, and I'm also no confirmed casualties at this time. It's too early to tell.”

He added: "It's a 75-ft commercial dive vessel that reportedly had 39 people on board. The five crew members able to disembark because they were in the main cabin. The passengers were below decks.

"The report we got was they were trapped by the fire. The fire was so intense that even after it was put out, we're not able to actually embark the vessel and, you know, look for survivors at this point. It's still ongoing."